Walking out Faith (Naaman) - 2 Kings 5:1-19a

Introduction

Biblical Timeline

United Kingdom under the Kings of Saul, David, and Solomon.

Divided Kingdom - The nation of Israel split into two different nations; Israel in the North, Judah in the South.

All people are God’s covenant people, but the North has evil kings that lead the people to defy God and serve false gods. They often forsake the messages from God through the prophets.

The southern kingdom has a mix of good and evil kings that lead the people towards or away from God. They may listen or reject the prophets based on their relationship with God.

Kings and Prophets

Kings - A male, authoritarian ruler of a people and/or territory. (Thornhill, A. Chadwick. “King.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.)

Prophets - someone who speaks in behalf of and interprets the will of a supernatural being, often rebuking or predicting events. (Biblical Sense)

Throughout Kings and Chronicles, we see there is a dispersing of prophets addressed in the story. Some of these prophets are addressed as giving verbal messages to the Kings and nations and others are giving messages through their writing.

Faith

Faith - to believe (trust) v. — to have faith; put one’s trust in something. (Biblical Sense)

Faith is about trusting and relying on God’s character and Words/Promises.

Does faith grow? Yes. Our faith, trust and reliance, grows as we learn and experience more of God’s character and see his faithfulness to his words. As we study and experience life, we see the truthfulness and reliability of God’s character and words. In that our faith grows.

I personally don’t like or agree with the understanding of, “we just need to have more faith, then God will...”

example, “you were not healed or that bad thing happened because you did not have enough faith.” or “If you had more faith you would have received...”

This gives a false understanding of faith and God’s character.

It takes faith and changes it from a response to God to a means to receive something and a striving after to receive. This can lead to a false understanding of Spiritual superiority.

It takes God’s character from a loving, gracious, and covenant relationship character to a God that responds only when we muster up enough faith.

Faith is about trusting and relying on God’s character and Words/Promises.

Naaman

Lets see what we can learn about walking out our faith in the life of Naaman.

Faith Kindled (2 Kings 5:1-10)

Hope of Healing (1-5)

Naaman (1)

2 Kings 5:1 (ESV)

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

Lord - Yahweh n., the name the God of Israel gives to the Israelites through Moses: (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Although the OT focuses on God’s interactions with the Israelites as His chosen people, We see that He is involved in foreign nations as well.

You can see the Lord at work through this whole story. With Naaman (1), Slave girl (2-3), Elisha (8-10), and Naaman’s Servant (13)

Leper - person with skin disease n., a person afflicted with a cutaneous disease (affecting the texture of the skin). (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Little girl (2-3)

2 Kings 5:2–3 (ESV)

2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife.

3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

Slave girl taken from Israel through conquest. She ended up in Naaman’s house as a servant for his wife.

Little Girl - young adj., in an early period of life, development, or growth; (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

She was willing to tell them about Elisha and how God used him to heal others. She was convinced that he could heal Naaman.

King of Syria (4-5a)

2 Kings 5:4–5 (ESV)

4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”...

Faith is kindled! (4)

Naaman believed that there is a possibility of him being healed in Israel. He is trusting the little girl words, the Prophet’s actions, and God’s ability can bring healing to him. His faith caused him to act.

Faith - to believe (trust) v. — to have faith; put one’s trust in something. (Biblical Sense) Faith is not only believing and trusting, but has an action/obedience to it.

Faith in Action (5a)

Naaman goes to the King who then sends him to Israel with a letter to the King of Israel.

Actions for Healing (5b-7)

Naaman’s Actions (5b-6)

2 Kings 5:5–6 (ESV)

5 ... So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

King of Israel (7)

2 Kings 5:7 (ESV)

7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

Elisha the Healer (8-10)

Elisha sends for Naaman (8-9)

2 Kings 5:8–9 (ESV)

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.

Prophet - prophet n. — someone who speaks in behalf of and interprets the will of a supernatural being, often rebuking or predicting events; can be used of poets who were said to be inspired by the gods. (Biblical Sense)

Elijah and Elisha were well known prophets of God in Israel during the Divided Kingdom.

“Prophet in Israel” - there were many false prophets in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but God did send some real prophets to them as his covenant people living in rebellion.

Naaman went to the House of Elisha in response to the message of Elisha.

Elisha’s message for Naaman (10)

2 Kings 5:10 (ESV)

And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”

Faith Challenged (2 Kings 5:11-14)

Expectations (11-12)

Naaman’s response (11a, 12b)

2 Kings 5:11–12 (ESV)

11 But Naaman was angry and went away, ...

12 ... So he turned and went away in a rage.

Angry - to be angry v., to be or become angry and feel aversion and antipathy for something. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Rage - fury n., a feeling of intense anger (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Naaman went to Elisha with an excitement of expectancy for the healing he would gain from the God of Israel. His faith, trust and reliance, is now challenged and he is angry.

Naaman’s expectation (11b-12a)

2 Kings 5:11–12 (ESV)

11b “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12a Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?”

Expectation - a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.

Naaman left angry because Elisha did not do what he expected and God did not say what he wanted to hear. He was angry about the way his healing was to come. (Jordan River)

Proverbs 3:5–8 (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Naaman was excited about the healing, but became angry when things did not go his way. He was not trusting in the Lord, but leaning on his own understanding. (Here we see a living example of the proverb.)

“11 But Naaman was angry and went away, ...12 ... So he turned and went away in a rage.” Please understand the seriousness of this. God is wanting to heal Naaman, but wants him to understand more about Him. He is walking away from his healing and even deeper a relationship with the true God of the Universe.

Do we get angry or does our faith weaver when God does not do what we expect? Are we missing out or receiving what God is wanting to do as we are walking out our faith in obedience or walking away?

Explanation (13-14)

Servant’s words (13)

2 Kings 5:13 (ESV)

But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

2 Kings 5:13 (NET 2nd ed.)

His servants approached and said to him, “O master, if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task, you would have been willing to do it. It seems you should be happy that he simply said, ‘Wash and you will be healed.’

“The commander’s servants, however, had not been personally put down as their master had, and could view the situation more objectively. They pointed out that it was not as though Elisha had requested something difficult (some great thing). What harm would there be in giving his remedy a try?” (Constable, Thomas L. “2 Kings.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 547. Print.)

Naaman’s healing (14)

2 Kings 5:14 (ESV)

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman walked out obedience to the words of Elisha.

God healed Him. God healed him, but was drawing Naaman to a deeper relationship with him through this process of faith, obedience and healing.

Faith Commitment (2 Kings 5:15-19a)

Committed to God (15-16)

Naaman’s commitment to God (15)

2 Kings 5:15 (ESV)

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.”

“I know” - to understand (believe) v., to believe to be the case. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

“There is no God in all the earth but in Israel” - Although the text does not say, I suspect that Naaman tried other ways to be healed with no results. I suspect he prayed to his god and went to others. I believe this because of what he says here.

Gift to Elisha (15b-16)

2 Kings 5:15–16 (ESV)

15b … And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

Request of Elisha (17-19a)

Naaman’s request (17)

2 Kings 5:17 (ESV)

Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.

Loads of earth

“Deities, Territories, and People, Over time, various gods of polytheism came to be associated with specific locations and nations. Since rulers were highly concerned with territory, they gave great interest to the issue of deities and locations.” (Rickett, R. Brian. “Polytheism.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.)

“Naaman wants holy ground (the dirt) with him so that he can have Yahweh with him while outside Israel. The request may reflect a belief that Israel’s territory belonged to Yahweh, while other nations were under the dominion of other, lesser gods (Deut 32:8–9).” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

Sacrifice to the Lord only

sacrifice n., the act of killing an animal as an act of worship, restitution, or atonement in regards to a deity. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Reason for request (18-19a)

2 Kings 5:18–19 (ESV)

18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19a He said to him, “Go in peace.”

“Rimmon was the Syrian storm god.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition Notes. Biblical Studies Press, 2006. Print.)

“Naaman now believes in Yahweh and vows to never sacrifice to another god, but his official duties (2 Kings 5:18) require that he accompany his elderly king into the temple of Rimmon.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

Lesson from Naaman

Faith is trust and reliance on the Lord and need to be obediently walked out.

Faith can be challenged and we need to trust and rely on God throughout the situation

Faith in God is ultimately about commitment to Him.